Enzo Maresca insists Reggie Walsh is 'perfect' for Chelsea system after historic debut in Conference League | OneFootball

The 16-year-old nearly scored with his first touch after coming off the bench

Historic night: Reggie Walsh is Chelsea’s youngest player since 1967

Action Images via Reuters

Enzo Maresca ramped up excitement over teenage prospect Reggie Walsh after handing him an historic Chelsea debut, claiming: ‘He’s perfect for our style of play’.

At just 16, Walsh became the youngest player to turn out for Chelsea since 1967 and went close to adding a fifth with a long-range strike with his very first touch.

“He’s very young but in the way we want to play, in our way, in our style, he’s perfect.

“But he’s still very young, he needs to learn, he needs to work hard and he needs to grow for sure. But we are happy.

Walsh’s bow put the seal on a near-perfect night for the Blues, who look certain to qualify for next month’s final in Wroclaw, where they would meet either Fiorentina or Real Betis. That tie is finely poised after the Spanish side won their home leg 2-1 on Thursday night.

Maresca, however, insists he is taking nothing for granted yet, with Chelsea having made hard work of their quarter-final against Legia Warsaw despite also holding a three-goal lead at the midway stage.

“The message is that against Warsaw away we won 3-0 and then at home we struggled,” Maresca said. “So, it’s a good experience and for sure the next leg at home we’re going to finish our job and hopefully we can reach the final.”